Lighting switch



Oct. 25, 1932. H. E. NORVIEL ET AL LIGHTING SWITCH flat-1:] 61 Norv/e/ and William (5. Wi/rle 1932- H. E. NORVIEL ET AL 1,884,146

LIGHTING SWITCH Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 If /3 E Mir/y 5- Norv/e/ and William iWik/e Patented Oct. 25, 1932 i I PATENT oFErcE 'iHARRY NQRVIEIIAND WILLIAM WIKLE, O'FYANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS 1T0 DELCO REMY ,COBPGRATION, OF ANDERSON, 'INDIANA,A CORPORATION OF 'DELA- WARE LIGHTING SWITCH I, :fThistinvention" relates to electrical switches zzandparticularly-to that classof switch used -rtocontro'l a plura'lity'of circuits, as in'auto- 'rzmotive engineering. 1

" i I 'It is one of the fobjects of thisinvention 'z'to .providea switch-structure coupled with an 'electrically. operateduregistering instruyment; ori indicating'device, in" which said -.instrument-:or: device 1s conditioned for operation upon proper .manipulation of the '5 m switchm'echanism orxthe closing of certain icircuits through said switch mechanism.

FFurtherrobjects and: advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptionyreferen'ce being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferrediembodiment of one'form of the present 1 invention iisclearly shown.

'In the drawings:

i Fig. lis a *front'view of the switch and.

indicator. unit embodying our invention.

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional new of the @switch unit as indicatedby the-line :and ar- '?Lrows,:'2+2 :ofcFig. .1. w Fig. 3 is a rear. view 1:35 Fig. 5 is a sectionalview of the same block substantially .as indicated by the line and r arrows" 5'5 ofFig. 4.

Fig. dis a rear'elevatlon of the same block was indicated bythe lineand arrows 6-6 of ZfIO Fig. 2 andis viewedinthe direction of the 1 arrow 6 of Fig. 5. D

Fig. 7 is an .elevational view "of the contact a plate s'ubstantially-asseen along the line and i-in'the direction "of. the arrows 7,7 of Fig. 2.

Fig.18 is: asectional view ofthecontact' plate asindicatedbythe line-88 of Fig. 7.

V -'-Fig. 9 is arear View of the supporting bracket and caseassem'bly, the switch mechs anism and registering vdevice being removed 50, :from their -;respective eases.

of the unit substan-- 3o:ItialIy-asindicated bythe arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

instrument, but not herein shown.

'---App1ication filed May 18; 192 Serial No. 364,273.

Fig. 10 is a'vertical section of the assembly substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 1010 of Fig. 9.

"Fig. 11 is a detail of construction substantiallyas indicated by the line and arrows 1111 ofFig. 9.,

Fig. 12 is a lan view of the locking ring for retaining t 1e window within the instrument case.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 1313 of Fig. 12. y i

A physical embodiment of the present invention includes a mounting bracket to which is fixed an instrument case enclosim a registering or' indicating mechanism, an

a switch case providing a housing for circuit closing mechanism. The instrument .to be contained within the instrument housing usually exists in the form of a temperature, indicator, a gasoline gage or any other desired instrument usually electrically operated, and the circuit of which is led through the switch structure contained within the companion housing. At one of the circuit closing positions of the controller of the switch device the circuit through the particular instrument is also closed and the instrument is then conditioned for performing its specific function, movement of the controller member to one or more of the other positions coincidentally opening the cir- With particular reference to the drawings .20 indicates a mounting bracket provided with angular or offset cars 21, apertured at 22 for mounting upon an instrument panel or other supporting structure of the'vehicle. At one end of the bracket 20, an instrument housing 23 is mounted by means of tangs 24 at the periphery'of said housing, received :b a ertures through the late adjacent Y P Q p indentations 25 into which the tangs are pressed as indicated in Fig. 11. This forms aninstrumentcase within which may be dis posed the desired registering 01' indicating The mounting bracket 20 is apertured at 26 to provide a window for'the instrument case,

and this aperture or opening'is covered by' a transparent medium 27, as glass, celluloid or similar material, and in the present in stance is disposed against a compressible washer or gasket 28 just fitting within the instrument case and positioned against the bracket 20.

The instrument case is provided with the inwardly directed squirts 29 under which is pressed locking ring 30 of spring material and which presents spring tangs 31 to enthe transparent member 27 substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. it will be noted that in the assembled position as illustrated in Fig. 2, that the locking ring 30 has expanded sufliciently to pass over the edge of the transparent medium 27 and that the tangs 31 thereof are angularly disposed so as to engage the surface of the glass 27 and urge it firmly against the gasket 28, while the ring 30 is being secured beneath the squirts 29. In the advent of destruction or rupture to the member 27 the ring 30 may be readily removed and a new member 27 put within the casing and secured therein by the locking ring 30, it being very easy to insert the ring 30 to hold the medium 27 under the squirts 29, but very difiicult to remove unless the glass 27 be broken or out of the way. Peripherial tangs 32 of the case 23, may be clinched against the back plate of the instrument to be housed within the case 23 which will secure the parts in assembled relation.

The other end of the bracket 20, or the region thereof adjacent the instrument case that has been just described, supports a second housing or switch case 35 by means of peripherial tongues 36 seated within similar indentations 37 to those of the instrument case described above. The switch case 35 is also provided with tongues 38 which co operate with elements later to be described to secure thereto a closure member, supporting fined contacts for the mechanism contained within the same. The supporting bracket or plate 20 is further apertured at 39 substantially coaxial with the switch case 35 to provide a journal for a switch operating member, and with a squirt 40 struck inwardly to provide a stop member as will later appear.

When the switch bracket has been assembled with the instrument case 23 and the switch case 35, the bracket plate 20 is substantially covered with a dial plate 41 secured thereon by the bezel ring 42 flanged at 43 to embrace the supporting bracket 20, which flange is deformed at 44 to secure the parts together as a unit. The dial plate 41 is apertured coextensive with the apertures 26 and 89 of the supporting plate, and a grommet 45 is secured within the aperture 39 forming a bearing for the switch controller.

In the bearing 45 is journalled a switch controller 46 provided with driving tongues 47 received within depressions 48 of a nonconducting contact support 49, and which is secured thereto by a screw threaded into the end of the controller 46 through an aperture 51 of said contact support. The contact support 49 is of molded formation and substantially equilateral triangular in shape. In addition to the appointments just described the member 49 is formed with an arc like well 52, which is concentric with the central aperture 51 and provides a way for the reception and relative movement of the squirt 40 on the supporting bracket 20, the squirt and well operating as a stop means for rotation of the member 49 when assembled within the switch housing. It is obvione that when the controller 46 is inserted within the aperture 39 and the contact support is placed over the end of the controller 46 so that the tongues 47 are received by the depressions 48 and so that the squirt 40 is disposed within the well 52, that the threading of the screw 50 through the aperture 51 and into the controller 46 will secure the parts in the stated relation, and that the support 49 will be capable of rotation within the switch housing by the member 46 so far as permitted by the stop means 40 and 52.

The reverse side of the contact support 49, or the side away from the controller 46, is provided with the flanges 55 near the apex of each angular portion of the member which provide a seating means for a contact urging spring 56. The central portion of the support 49 is provided coaxially of the aperture 51 with a turret formation 57 which is peripherially notched at 58, 59 and 60 to provide a driving engagement with a contact plate 61. The turret 57 is centrally bored or countersunk at 62 to provide a recess within which is disposed a head of the screw 50 when the elements are in assembled relation. This recess or counter-sink is sufiiciently greater in depth than the thickness of the head and washer of the screw 50 so that depression of the contact plate 61 against the turret 57 will not permit engagement between the contact plate 61 and the screw 50, whereby a short circuit might be established.

The contact plate 61 is of circular form and provides the contact embossments 63, 64 and 65 on one side thereof and is deformed in the central portion thereof to provide the driving tangs 66, 67 and 68 which cooperate with the notches 58, 59 and 60 respectively of the contact support 49. The contact plate 61 is centrally apertured at 69 so as to further preclude the engagement between the'plate and the head of the screw 50, as the plate 61 is moved toward the contact support 49.

A closure member is provided for the rear of the switch case 35 by a nonconducting plate peripherially notched to receive the tangs 38 of the case 35 as earlier described, tabs 76 of said tongues being bent against the outside of the plate to secure the switch back to the case substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. To the switch back 7 5 is secured a pair of fuse brackets 77 and 7 8 by rivets 79, which provide switch contacts within the case 35' and terminal members exterior of the same. The rivets 7 9 being internally threaded for reception of screws by which the various leads may be secured thereto. In addition to the rivets 7 9, the switch back 7 5 is further provided with contact and terminal members 80, which with the rivets? 9 are grouped in circular form about the switch back and substantially coaxial thereof so as to be optionally engageable by the spherical embossments 63, 64 and 65 of the contact blade 61 when the switch back is assembled with the case to close the rear thereof.

In assembling the switch structure, or in placing the switch back upon the housing 35, the contact urging spring 56 is disposed against the contact support l9 and seated within the terminating flanges 55. The contact plate 61 is then placed against the spring 56 and pressed into engagement with the contact support so that the driving tangs 66, 67 and 68 are received by the notches 58, 59 and 60 respectively, and the switch back 75 is then placed on the housing 35 between the tangs 88 where it is secured by bending over the tabs 76. The registering instrument to be housed by the case 23 is secured thereto in a similar manner, the peripheral tangs 32 officiating in a similar manner as the tangs 38 of the switch case.

From the above description it will be obvious that we have provided a unitary structure which conveniently and compactly houses a switch mechanism and a registering instrument controlled thereby and which may be adequately interconnected by proper electrical leads without a great deal of expense or difiiculty in operation.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a mounting, the combination comprising, a mounting bracket, a pair of cases secured thereto, said mounting bracket being apertured substantially central of each case, a dial plate over said mounting bracket and a bezel ring secured thereto, said dial plate being apertured coextensive with said mounting bracket, and said bezel ring enclosing both of said apertures, one of said cases providing a transparent closure for said aperture, said other case housing a switch mechanism operable through the aperture leading into said case.

2. In a mounting, the combination coma dial plate secured thereto by a bezel ring, prising, a mounting bracket provided with a pair of case members secured to the mounting bracket, each defining a cup shaped housing, said mounting bracket and dial plate being apertured to provide an opening into each of said housings, one of said housings resiliently supporting a transparent closure for the respective opening, the other of said .case and a switch case secured to said bracket,

saidbracket being apertured to provide a window for said instrument case and a bearing for an operator of mechanism contained within the switch case, and a transparent closure member within said instrument case for closing said window, said instrument case provided with inward squirts and a locking ring secured beneath said squirts maintaining the closure member therein.

at. In a mounting, the combination comprising, a mounting bracket, an instrument case and a switch case secured to said bracket, said bracket being apertured to provide a window for said instrument case and a bearing for an operator of mechanism contained within the switch case, a transparent closure member within said instrument case for closing said window, and a locking ring within said instrument case for retaining the transparent member within said case.

5. A mounting as defined by claim 4 in which the locking ring comprises an elongated member of spring material secured within the instrument case and provided with transverse squirts which engage the transparent medium'and resiliently maintain it in position against the window.

6. A mounting as defined by claim 4 in which the locking ring is secured to the instrument case by inward squirts of said case against which said locking ring may be seated.

7. In a mounting the combination comprising, 'a mounting bracket providing a pair of cases each defining a cup shaped housing, said bracket forming a head member for each of said cases, an aperture provided within the bracket for each of said cases, a controller journalled in the aperture of one of said cases, a transparent closure for the aperture of said other case and a locking ring within said other case releasably retaining the transparent member against the head member.

In testimony whereof we hereto aflix our signatures.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. WILLIAM E. WIKLE. 

